Image source, World Sport PicsImage caption, Jonny Lynch hit a first-half hat-trick against Malaysia
ByNigel RinglandBBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Wavre- Published5 minutes ago
Ireland put the disappointment of missing out on a top-eight place behind them by taking a major step towards their best ever finish at a hockey World Cup thanks to a 7-4 win over Malaysia.
Jonny Lynch scored a hat-trick in the chaotic encounter which is the first of two games in the crossover Pool H to decide the 9th-16th ranking match-ups.
With South Africa beating France 3-1, Mark Tumilty’s side are three points clear of the African champions and with a goal difference that is superior by seven goals.
Ireland face France on Sunday with South Africa taking on Malaysia but, barring a huge swing, Ireland will face the winners of Pool G for 9/10th place which will better their previous best finish of 12th at the 1978 and 1990 tournaments.
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Lynch treble sets Ireland on their way
Lisnagarvey’s Lynch helped himself to a first-half hat-trick with club team-mate Matthew Nelson scoring twice.
The other Ireland goals were scored by Johnny McKee and Ben Walker.
Azzimudin Kamaruddin, Amirul Azahar, Abu Kamal Azrai and Faizal Saari replied for Malaysia in a game that saw Ireland lead 4-1 at half-time and 6-3 after three quarters.
While it was not a defensive masterclass, the win was all-important for an Ireland side who had stepped off the pitch in Wavre only twenty hours beforehand after the disappointing loss to Spain.
“For any side, a turnaround that quickly was going to be a challenge,” said Irish coach Mark Tumilty.
“We challenged the guys to just control the game. Did we control the game? I don't know if we did, to be honest with you. Portions of it, maybe.
“Actually, we probably played some really good hockey at times. We passed the ball well and a lot of the principles that we try to work with as a group came out.”
Crucial game with France to come on Sunday
Tumilty said it will be “nice to get a day's rest and get away from hockey for a few hours” but Sunday’s game against France is crucial for a number of reasons.
The two countries have been swapping places in the world rankings with each result.
Ireland moved back ahead of the French into ninth place and are guaranteed to finish ahead of them at the tournament to earn further points.
A head-to-head victory would also help secure a position that will be key moving forward.
At next year’s EuroHockey championships in London the top six European countries in the world rankings will be seeded and guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals which almost certainly will eventually secure a place in the Olympic qualifiers for LA28.
The countries ranked seven through 12 will have to play-off for the final two places in the last eight.
It is that crucial sixth place that Ireland and France are battling for with the world rankings at the end of the World Cup being used to decide the seedings for EuroHockey.
“I think that will be the motivation for both sides. I know that John-John Dohmen is talking about the rebuilding and building for the future with France, which I fully understand,” said Tumilty.
“But I know Ireland-France games are always competitive. They're always physical.
“There'll be an edge to the game on Sunday with probably so much on the line.
“Only one thing that's important, and that's winning.”
